Gents, just to share my experience. The USB cable is the most neglected cable in my system although I have a pretty decent one (Tellurium Q Ultra Silver). I recently went with the Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 and installed it in my system yesterday. To my dismay I didn’t hear any noticeable difference. I tried to convince myself that the cable might need more time to complete the burn-in but wasn’t expecting any miracles.
Just today, I spent some time listening to familiar music. I’m stunned. Trying to avoid being long-winded, this cable now sounds quite different, quite a bit better than the old Tellurium Q Ultra Silver USB. I listened to more familiar tracks and figured out there isn’t any need to swap and compare the cables anymore to hear for differences.
Improvements include improved clarity and detail across the frequency spectrum, reduced background noise, reduced smearing of notes and more defined bass and midbass. It’s just an overall cleaner and more refined presentation and a higher quality sound reproduction. The tone of instruments sound slightly different and music just sounds right. I find myself shaking my head in disbelief and at the same time tapping my foot to the beat when listening to familiar music which showed improved refinement and sophistication. And it’s just a USB cable which I didn’t put too much high hopes earlier.
Make no mistake, at this level it’s the small differences that count. I don’t claim the difference to be earth shattering night and day. The previous cable is decent but this new USB has really taken things up a notch or two. The differences in this case improvements are clear to the ears. I am now a believer. The Wireworld is a good cable and I now highly recommend it. I’m not sure if the sound will improve further as the cable currently has about 20 hours on it.
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Among $100 price range, I recommend Van den hul usb cable. It was better than oyaide continental, aq carbon, venom and several others. I can feel more of sound texture.
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I replaced the Cardas with Sablon 2020 Panatela. Im a big fan of Cardas cabling but the Sablon Usb wins it hands down.
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Jerry, interesting I had the same problem with my first Cardas cable. No signal. Put back a cheap printer cable and everything was fine. Cardas overnighted a replacement that has worked fine ever since. So seems like there maybe a quality control problem, not a compatibility problem.
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I see a lot of recommendations for the Cardas Clear. That was the first cable I bought. Had it on hand when my new streamer showed up (needed longer cable) and no joy. Roon did not see the DAC (the streamer is transparent when hookup is correct). Put cheap cable on, it worked fine. So I bought the Audioquest Carbon cable that I could get from amazon delivered the next day.
I returned the Cardas cable as defective. I’ve always wondered if it was indeed defective of if there was something different in the way it was wired. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to try it.
Jerry
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@temmple
CARDAS CLEAR USB ( original) …. (About $200 price-point)
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Just happily upgraded to 1.5M AQ Carbon, from Belkin Gold (Incredible for $17)...
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Lots of great options listed but most cost as much as my entire digital front end :))
Lavri seems to be the best price for what you get so leaning that route. Dual cable that is single headed with silver plated copper.
Anymore more options in the $100 ish range before I place my order?
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@akg_ca What version are you using? High Speed or Original?
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CARDAS CLEAR USB
highly recommended.
terrific in my system . ( in fairness, I have a full CC loom array nuts to bolts )
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I recently demoed a bunch of USB Cables to replace my iFi Mercury 3.0 USB cable. The cables I tried are Ansuz X2, Inakustik Excellence, and Phasure Lush 2.0.
I originally had my eye on the Inakustik Referenz USB however the local dealer didn't have it on hand, so he lent the Inakustik Excellence which is a lower tier. In the end, I got the Phasure Lush, it sounded the best to me.
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I will share my thoughts on what I tried in my system.
Kimber b-bus usb: barely any improvement over generic usb
Wireworld Starlight 8 - decent. Bit thin sounding but better than generic
Analysis Plus Pure Silver USB - didn’t care for it. Heard glare, glassy highs
DH Labs Mirage - second best after Audience. Gives up a bit of everything in comparison. On its own though a very very solid cable.
Audience AU24se+ USB - best and most natural. Full sound, great imaging, full mids, deep bass and sweet highs.
Take all this with a grain of salt..,this is what I heard, my system my room
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The Final Touch Callisto is by far the most natural cable I have heard under $1k
andI have heard many good ones ,IHave this cable in one of my systems
and their flagship Sinope USB cable around $750 with discounts
callRob at Lampizator in NY it is totally Undigital in sound realism ,not Hifi sounding.
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I'm using a "WireWorld Starlight Platinum 8" between my Zen Stream & Musetec DAC. Sounds great!
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I am sorry but have not heard the cables you mentioned. I own the original Curious USB cable, ifi's Gemini split USB cable, and the Totaldac USB cable/filter, and I have been happy with the TWL (Triode Wire Labs) USB cable. They offer a split power/data version that I own/use as well as a combined data & power USB cable. Here and here are a couple of reviews.
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I’m not familiar with the Magnus, but both the Lavri and Supra seem to get really good reviews. I’ve got the Lavri, and although I haven’t been able to compare to the Supra I can just say my streaming with the Lavri sounds notably better than spinning CDs (granted, lotsa variables in there). That was a huge surprise to me. I’ve no idea how it compares to the Supra or others, but I can say without a doubt the Lavri elevated my digital streaming game at a very reasonable price, at least by audiophile standards. I can tell you this — I’ve got balanced interconnects, a balanced headphone cable, and the USB cable from LavriCable and they’re all great. Lots of detail, air, tone, 3D imaging/soundstage with absolutely no harshness or brightness that’s often associated with silver cables. I don’t know how they do it, but they’ve managed to combine both the strengths of silver and copper in one cable. If you want added warmth these certainly won’t do that, but if you’re just looking for the truth the rest of your electronics then I can highly recommend the Lavri. Hope this helps, and best of luck.
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Tried the AQ Carbon, Supra X and Cardas High Speed in addition to a couple of "printer" cables. Supra is a good cable at its price point but ended up using the ( much more expensive) Cardas. The Cardas seemed to eliminate any and all glare I got at times with the other cables.
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My default when on a budget is DHLabs. I have used Cardas, Ridge Street Audio (?), Nordost, and DHLabs… as well as cheapies. I don’t recommend cheapies.
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Thank you Jerry for your reply and agree with most of what you said. Leaning towards the Excalibur at this point.
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i haven't used any of these cables but recognize that 95% of the people that give you absolute advice on the internet also haven't used the equipment they are so certain about.
I like the price range you are shopping it. Not much to be gained going further up. I like silver for digital which the first 2 have.
I don't think you need power so I don't know why there are not more data only cables made for audiophile applications. All 3 have power conductors but won't hurt anything.
I think all 3 will do you well but the last one gives no specs but lots of bragging. Go with one of the first 2.
I use audioquest carbon. Has silver. Reputation suffers from mass production but I couldn't find anything else at the time I'm very happy with it.
Jerry
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Thanks for stating the obvious. I have no easy way of demoing cables in home and the reason I came here to see if people might have experience with some of the cables I had listed which I had narrowed down from a larger list. So I have done some legwork but just asking for some opinions. Someone might even reply with one cable has better specs than the other or opinions on SQ over the other. so This is the kind of input I am hoping for.
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@temmple One cannot "triangulate" around my system, my room, my experience, my ears, etc. via remote postings.
You will get answers for sure. Are they the right answers??? Whichever way you dice this, you have to do the work yourself. You'll be better for it; and wiser. And you will choose the 'right/correct' option for you.
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